ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY VILLAGE ASSOCIATION
The University Village Association (UVA) was formed in the summer of
1981 by area residents, merchants, and local institutions. We are a
not-for-profit organization created with both long-range and short-term goals
firmly in mind. We seek to improve local stability by assisting in the economic
and residential development in the neighborhood. We encourage and lend
support to projects that assure the vitality and viability of the University Village
area. Some of the areas of focus for the initiatives that UVA has successfully
led are:
Education
After intense lobbying and fundraising efforts, the UVA was instrumental in the
development of the Andrew Jackson Language Academy, a public magnet
elementary school with a unique sculpture play park. UVA raised funds for the
sculpture, ornamental fencing, donated books to the school library and
participated in the linkup of the school with area institutions and universities.
It is one of the best elementary schools in the State of Illinois.
UVA organized many meetings and spearheaded advocacy which resulted in
another school, the Galileo Galilee Math and Science Academy, being located in
a previously unused Chicago Public School building which had been earmarked
for demolition.
Parks and Public Ways
We are especially proud of our three neighborhood parks; Garibaldi Park at
1520 West Polk Street, Arrigo Park at 801 South Loomis Street and Sheridan
Park and Field House at 901 S. Aberdeen Street. The UVA employs a staff
member whose sole responsibility is to clean our streets, alleys and parks. We
purchased a truck and appropriate equipment initiating a graffiti cleanup program
that the City of Chicago then adopted as its highly successful Graffiti Removal
Program. We also assist in obtaining new sidewalk construction, street and curb
rebuilding programs, and antique street and park lamps to enhance the visual
aesthetics of the area. We are proud of our relationship with city agencies
including the Bureau of Forestry and the Chicago Park District for which we
conduct a spring and fall missing and dead tree survey in the parks and street
parkways to assure their replacement. We also successfully advocated for
decorative iron fencing to enhance our three area parks and to substantially
improve the play lots in Garibaldi and Sheridan Parks.
In order to beautify the neighborhood, as well as celebrate the Italian heritage
of the community, the University Village Association helped restore and relocate
two important bronze statues to our parks. A large statue of the Italian patriot,
Giuseppe Garibaldi, was moved in 1982 from Lincoln Park and placed in
Garibaldi Park. A large bronze statue of Christopher Columbus by Moses
Ezekiel from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition was placed in a fountain
plaza in Arrigo Park. These statues became the central focal point of these two
of our community's parks. UVA also spearheaded efforts to create fountain
plazas in key places in the community. The most well-known is the Joe
DiMaggio Yankee Clipper life-size bronze statue and fountain. It stands directly
across from the Italian American Sports Hall of Fame at 1431 W. Taylor Street.
UVA efforts also succeeded in obtaining a fountain plaza adjacent to Chicago
famous Tufano's Restaurant at 1073 West Vernon Park Place.
Planning and Economic Development
We were a City of Chicago Delegate Agency of the Department of Community
Development. Our service area boundaries are Western Avenue to the Chicago
River, Congress Parkway to 16th Street. As a Delegate Agency we are able to
assist small businesses in various ways. For instance, we coordinated $500,000
in storefront and storefront facade construction and commissioned plans for
parking facilities for our key Taylor Street shopping area. We monitor available
retail space on our commercial streets and employ staff whose sole responsibility
is to keep our community free of litter.
Currently, we are forming a Taylor Street Chamber of Commerce as we seek to
expand and develop our Little Italy Taylor Street commercial area. The UVA is
in the forefront of advocating for business and housing development that is
harmonious with the architectural history and fabric of our community in the
redevelopment of the nearly 100 acres of vacant land in our community from the
demolition of the old Chicago Housing Authorities (CHA) ABLA property now
taking place under the CHA's Plan for Transformation. Some of this vacant
property is on Taylor Street and we believe that any successful redevelopment
must take into account the retail and residential needs of our community
particularly as it relates to this important commercial Chicago street.
Advocacy and Assistance Programs
We work with closely with the Chicago Police Department 012th District in a
variety of ways to prevent crime in our community. We participate in the Court
Advocacy Program and the Chicago Police Department's CAP's program.
UVA monitors the buildings in the area to assure safety and security for all of its
neighbors by reporting buildings, to the proper city agency, that are neglected or
present safety concerns or do not meet legal requirements.
Festa Italiana
Perhaps the most popular of our programs is the three day neighborhood festival
on Taylor Street. Originally, UVA initiated "A Touch of Italy" on Taylor Street.
This festival ran for five years to great acclaim. Some of the money raised from
the event assisted with Little League equipment and scholarships to area schools
among other needs. Following a several-year hiatus, UVA again sponsored the
festival under the new name of "Festa Italiana" beginning in 2007. This festival,
features local merchants, food and big-name live entertainment. The festival's
goal is to promote our community and its merchants and to raise money for the
UVA.
